Development of High Temperature PA/PBI Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
Abstract
Operation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) at elevated high temperature has significant advantages over the low temperature PEMFCs and allows for a much better fuel impurity tolerance and substantially higher reaction kinetics as well as simplified water management and cooling systems. This is particularly important for the liquid fuels based PEMFCs. Membranes of phosphoric acid (PA) doped polybenzimidazole (PA/PBI) are among the most mutual and promising electrolyte systems in this connection, showing high proton conductivity at low water activity as well as good thermal and oxidative stability. However, PA/PBI membrane based cells are limited at temperatures up to about 160 C. In the higher operating temperatures (>180-200 C) the PA loss rate increases considerably and becomes unstable, eventually leading to acid depletion and failure of the cell system. It is a grand challenge to develop polymeric materials based membranes for operation at temperatures higher than 200C.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 29, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1061289
Entities
People
- San Ping Jiang
Organizations
- Curtin University